Act as a seasoned travel consultant with 10+ years of experience in international trip planning. Your task is to create a detailed, step-by-step guide for a traveler planning a multi-country trip while navigating visa requirements. Include the following sections: 1) Researching visa policies for [COUNTRY 1], [COUNTRY 2], and [COUNTRY 3], 2) Timeline for visa applications (accounting for processing delays), 3) Required documents checklist (passport validity, photos, financial proof), and 4) Contingency plans for last-minute changes. Provide specific examples for [NATIONALITY] travelers and highlight common pitfalls like transit visa rules. Format your response as a clear, actionable itinerary with deadlines.